The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-09-03

The decision OF Secretary Lamar
throwing open for settlement the indem-
nifty lands Of the Marquette, Houghton
4 Ontonagon Railway has caused a gem
uine sensation throughout the upper
Peninsula, and the applications or home
stead privileges will be numerous. Some
Of the homesteads are said TO be worth
from four to seven thousand dollars.
APPLICATIONS FOR A HOMESTEAD.
To obtain ahomestead the party must,
in connection with his application, make
an affidavit before the register and re-
ceiyer that he is over the age Of twenty
one or the head Of family; that he is a
citizen OF the United States, or has de-
cIared his intention to become such and
that the entry is made for his exclusive
use and benefit, and for actual settle
ment and cultivation; and must pay the
legal fee and that part Of the commission
which is payable when the entry is made.
Where n wife has been divorced from
or deserted by her husband, so that she
il dependent on her own resources foi
support, il in fact the head Of family
she can make homestead entry as such.
Where the applicant or some member
OF the family Is residing upon, and
has made actual settlement on and im-
proyement OF the land he desires TO enter,
but is prevented by reason OF bodily i'm
trinity, distance, or other good cause,
from personal attendance at the district
land Office, the affidavit may be made
before the clerk OF the court for the coun-
~ within which the land is situated.
In such cases the applicant must sta
in supplemental affidavit the facts OF
sucl settlement, Improvement, and resi-
dence; what acts OF settlement have
been performed, and when made; the
nature, extent, and value Of theimprove-
ments: what member or members OF his
family are residing on the land, and the
length OF time each residence has been
maintained, and the cause, specifically,
why the applicant cannot appear at the
local Office.
A person i'm active service in the Army
or Navy OF the United States, whose
family or some member thereof is resid-
ing on the land which he whistles TO enter,
and upon which bona fide settlement
and Improvement has been made by
them, may make the affidavit required
by law before the officer commanding in
the branch Of service i'm which the appli-
cant is engaged. The applicant must in
every case in his application give his
place OF actual residence and his post
office address, i'm order that notices oil
contest or other proceedings relative to
his entry may be sent him.
SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATIONS.
In case OF simultaneous applics tions
to enter the same tract OF land under the
homestead laws, the rule is as follow:
FIRST. Where neither party has inn
provements on the land, the right OF en-
try should be awarded TO the highest
bidder.
sEcoND.--W Where one has actual settle
ment and Improvement and the other
has not, it should be awarded to the
actual settler.
THrRD.-Where both allege settlement
and improvements, an investigation
must be had and the right OF entry
awarded to the one who shows prior act.
ual settlement and substantial improve
ments so IA TO be noticed on the ground
to any competitor.
INCENTIVE RIGHT OF HOMESTEAD sETTLE Rs.
An inceptive right Is vested in the set
tier by the proceedings hereinbefore de.
scribed. He must, within six months
after making his entry, establish his act.
ual residence, in "a house, upon the land,
and must reside upon and cultivate the
land continuously, in accordance with
law, for the term OF five years.
AT the expiration OF that time, orwith-
in two years thereafter, upon proper
proof to the satisfaction oil the land
officers, and payment To the receiver oil
that part Of the commissions remaining
TO be paid, the receiver will issue his re-
CENT therefor, and the register will issue
certificate, and make proper returns to
the General Land office as the basis of a
patent or complete title TO the home
stead.
The period OF continuous residence and
cultivation begins to run mt the date oil
actual settlement, i'm case the entry at
-, i.4..;,t land ofIice il made within